Lions buoyed by Lulay's encouraging performance in win over Stampeders

Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun11.02.2013

BC Lions QB #14 Travis Lulay celebrates his touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders with his teammates in a regular season CFL football game at BC Place, Vancouver November 01 2013.Gerry Kahrmann
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B.C. Lions' quarterbacks Travis Lulay, left, and Buck Pierce watch from the sideline during the second half CFL action against the Calgary Stampeders in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 1, 2013.Gerry Kahrmann
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B.C. Lions' Courtney Taylor fails to make the catch as Calgary Stampeders' Brandon Smith, back, interferes with him and draws a penalty during the second half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
/ Canadian Press

B.C. Lions' Stefan Logan has his facemask grabbed by Calgary Stampeders' Yannick Carter, back, during second half CFL football action in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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B.C. Lions' Emmanuel Arceneaux, right, leaps over Calgary Stampeders' Brandon Smith to make the reception during second half CFL football action in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
/ Canadian Press

Calgary Stampeders' Micah Johnson, centre, is helped to the locker room by Jon Cornish, left, and Dr. Ian Auld after suffering an injury during first half CFL football action against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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B.C. Lions' quarterback Buck Pierce looks to pass and throws an interception during first half CFL football action against the Calgary Stampeders in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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Calgary Stampeders' Jon Cornish walks back to the bench after helping injured teammate Micah Johnson to the locker room during first half CFL football action against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
/ Canadian Press

Calgary Stampeders' Rene Paredes, right, kicks a field goal as Bo Levi Mitchell holds during first half CFL football action against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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Calgary Stampeders' Rene Paredes smiles after kicking a field goal against the B.C. Lions during first half CFL football action in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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B.C. Lions' J.R. LaRose, bottom right, fails to get control of the ball after nearly intercepting a pass intended for Calgary Stampeders' Jeff Fuller, right, as Lions' Cord Parks, left, watches during first half CFL football action in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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B.C. Lions' J.R. LaRose, bottom, fails to get control of the ball after nearly intercepting a pass intended for Calgary Stampeders' Jeff Fuller, top, during first half CFL football action in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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B.C. Lions' quarterback Travis Lulay is lifted by teammate Dean Valli after rushing for a touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders during first half CFL football action in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
/ Canadian Press

Calgary Stampeders' Micah Johnson, centre, is helped to the locker room by Jon Cornish, left, and Dr. Ian Auld after suffering an injury during first half CFL football action against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
/ Canadian Press

B.C. Lions' Andrew Harris, from left to right, Steve Myddelton and Seydou Junior Haidara celebrate after Harris rushed for a touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders during first half CFL football action in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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B.C. Lions quarterback Travis Lulay rushes for a touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders during first half CFL football action in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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Calgary Stampeders' Jeff Fuller, left, is tackled by B.C. Lions' Lin-J Shell as he carries the ball during first half CFL football action in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
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B.C. Lions' Eric Taylor, left, leaps to tackle Calgary Stampeders' Jeff Fuller, centre, as Lions' Solomon Elimimian, right, joins in on the play during first half CFL football action in Vancouver on Friday November 1, 2013.Darryl Dyck
/ Canadian Press

BC Lions #14 Travis Lulay signals to the bench after entering the game against the Calgary Stampeders in the last regular season CFL football game at BC Place, Vancouver November 01 2013.Darryl Dyck
/ Canadian Press

BC Lions #44 Adam Bighill wraps his arms around Calgary Stampeders #86 Anthony Parker during a tackle in a regular season CFL football game at BC Place, Vancouver November 01 2013.Gerry Kahrmann
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BC Lions #84 Emmanuel Arceneaux enters the field to play the Calgary Stampeders in a regular season CFL football game at BC Place, Vancouver November 01 2013.Gerry Kahrmann
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BC Lions Head coach Mike Benevides walks onto the field as the Lions prepare to play the Calgary Stampeders in a regular season CFL football game at BC Place, Vancouver November 01 2013.Gerry Kahrmann
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BC Lions #11 Buck Pierce hands off the ball to #10 Stefan Logan during a play against the Calgary Stampeders in a regular season CFL football game at BC Place, Vancouver November 01 2013.Gerry Kahrmann
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BC Lions #11 Buck Pierce hands off the ball to #10 Stefan Logan during a play against the Calgary Stampeders in a regular season CFL football game at BC Place, Vancouver November 01 2013.Gerry Kahrmann
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With each toss of the football by marquee quarterback Travis Lulay in practice last week a sense anticipation continued to build.

It manifested itself Friday night as Lulay, after missing six games with a shoulder injury, took the B.C. Lions on a seven-play drive for a touchdown in a 26-7 win over the Calgary Stampeders before 27,228 at BC Place.

The game had the earmarks of a preseason game (six quarterbacks saw action, three from each team) and a similar intensity. Indeed, the Lions’ victory did nothing to change the order of finish in the Canadian Football League’s West Division, except to deprive the first-place Stampeders of matching a franchise-best record of 15-3.

Yet it did not alter the growing momentum of an 11-7 Lions team eight days away from a Nov. 10 date in Regina for the West semi-final. And the defeat, perhaps, muddled the prospects of the Stampeders, who move directly to the Nov. 17 West final with some added question marks.

Playing out the string came at a severe cost. The Stamps saw three starters go down with apparent leg injuries, including starting defensive tackles Micah Johnson and Demonte Bolden and 1,000-yard receiver Marquay McDaniel. McDaniel was sandwiched between Lions defenders Lin-J Shell and Cord Parks on a passing play and had to be helped off the field.

As well, premier running back Jon Cornish, the league rushing leader, was shut down after just four carries for 14 yards and had an ice pack applied to his right shoulder.

Lulay, who came in mid-way through the second quarter, might not be fully recovered from a partial shoulder dislocation suffered Sept. 15 against the Montreal Alouettes. If that’s the case, he did an effective job of disguising the fact on a spritely touchdown drive.

After engineering five straight plays involving running back Andrew Harris (three handoffs, one pass and a direct snap), Lulay gave his wounded wing its stiffest test in weeks. Would he have the arm strength to throw deep? He answered the question by lobbing a perfect 35-yard strike to Nick Moore in stride that put the Lions at the doorstep of the end zone.

Lulay faked a handoff to Harris, before he swung wide, the ball cradled in his right arm to score on a one-yard touchdown run. He outflanked defenders Chris Randle and Eric Fraser, who were ready to pop him, and, for a brief moment, looked ready to lower his shoulder if need be.

That was his undoing, of course, six weeks ago against the Alouettes when Lulay drove defender Geoff Tisdale into the end zone, then sprinted to the sideline, his arm hanging like a wet noodle.

“I was excited about the way it felt,” Lulay said. “It was important for me to get in the huddle with the guys and make a few throws. I only got four. But, personally, I got what I’d hoped out of it. I threw a vertical (deep) ball and Nick made a play for me.”

Asked if the brief outing improved his prospects to start next Sunday against the Roughriders, Lulay responded, “Yeah, I feel I could. It all depends on how it recovers tomorrow. Adrenaline is a pretty good drug.”

Buck Pierce, nominated by head coach Mike Benevides to start Game No. 18 , left the game mid-way through the second quarter with an apparent chest injury and the Lions ahead 10-4.

Pierce got off to an unpromising beginning. His first throw, deep downfield intended for Courtney Taylor, was a perfect fly ball that Calgary linebacker Deron Mayo camped under for an interception.

On his next possession, however, Pierce was masterful, aiming three passes in the direction of Moore (one gain came on a pass interference call) on an 11-play drive to set up the Lions’ first touchdown. With Thomas DeMarco in at quarterback for a short yardage play, Harris scored from one-yard out to put the Lions in front 7-3.

Pierce later put the Lions in position for a 47-yard field goal from Paul McCallum -- McCallum’s longest of the season -- before leaving the game. McCallum was four-for-four on the evening, making successful attempts from 44, 17 and 23 yards in the second half.

Rene Paredes booted a pair of field goals for the Stampeders, including a 46-yard attempt in the first quarter which barely cleared the crossbar. He finished the season, having made 54 of 57 field goals to set a CFL record for the highest percentage of successful attempts in a single season -- 94.74. The previous record (94.339 per cent) was set by McCallum in 2011.

END ZONE -- Harris finished the game with 102 yards rushing. He felt two yards shy of reaching 1,000 for the season, however, after he was thrown for a nine-yard loss in the second half . . . In a rare feat, the Lions played the entire game without receiving a penalty . . . Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent hamstring injury . . . With nine days between games, the Lions will take a break from the practice field for three straight days. They’ll begin preparations of the West semi-final on Tuesday.

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Lions buoyed by Lulay's encouraging performance in win over Stampeders

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